A Buffalo radio host is apologizing after being fired for using Black women’s skin tones to describe how he likes his toast
A radio show host has been fired after he compared black women’s skin to burnt toast live on-air, and claimed he would ‘never go to a Serena Williams level.’
Rob Lederman was axed from his job hosting 97 Rock’s Morning Bull show in Buffalo, New York, over Wednesday morning’s conversation, which outraged listeners and anti-racism campaigners.
He said: ‘I may get into trouble for this. ‘I have them (toaster settings) to the attractiveness of women that I find to be attractive. ‘I will never go to a Serena Williams level, but I’m very comfortable with a Halle Berry level.’
Lederman went on to say that he needed ‘a little bit of mulatta’ – a word used to describe mixed race women now considered dated and offensive – ‘coming through.’
Didn’t hear this live but internet keeps receipts. @97RockBuffalo morning hosts compared how they like their toast to black women’s skin tone. So just in case y’all missed it too, take a listen pic.twitter.com/6nVolu5a23
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) March 24, 2021
Klein and a second co-host, Rich Gaenzler, were suspended over the incident, which was widely-condemned and some saw advertisers boycott the station as a result.
He was asked by co-host Chris Klein for his thoughts on CBS News anchor Gayle King, who is black, and answered: ‘Gayle King is not even on my toaster level.’
— Rob Lederman (@LedermanRob) March 25, 2021
Gaenzler has also been fired from his job as an arena host by sports company Pegula, who branded the remarks ‘unacceptable’ and ‘inappropriate,’ adding: ‘There is no place for them in our community.’
Lederman has since issued a groveling apology to Buffalo News over the conversation, saying he understood how offensive it was.
Both Lederman and the 97 Rock radio station faced continued fallout following the broadcast.
Buffalo’s Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation and the Ride for Roswell all pulled advertising from the station.
